Roving submersible pump

ABSTRACT

A roving submersible pump arrangement for movement in a body of fluid is presented. The pump arrangement includes a submersible pump having an inlet and a discharge outlet and a buoyant transport device connected to the submersible pump. The buoyant transport device is operable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at a selected distance from a surface containing the body of fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates in general to submersible industrial pumps and,in particular, to roving submersible pumps that are structured to removeparticulate from the bodies of fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In many industries, but most prevalently in the mining industry, largeponds are used to control the run-off from mine sites. These containmentponds contain mining debris, silt and other detritus which result fromthe mining operation and from water run-off. Containment ponds arefrequently established on benches or in areas of the mine site thatprevent the water from draining into the mine. These ponds fill withsilt and other material over time and lose the volumetric capacity tocontain the fluid, thereby leading to overflow of the ponds.Accordingly, it is necessary to remove the silt and solid materials fromthe pond to avoid overflow conditions.

Currently, the conventional means for removing silt and other materialsfrom containment ponds is to (i) dredge the pond or (ii) drain the pondand use bulldozers, excavators, loaders and dump trucks to scoop andcarry out the silt and other material. These removal means are costlyand result in the diversion of equipment, which are intended for use ineveryday mining operations.

Thus, it would be beneficial to provide compact devices that may bestrictly dedicated to maintenance of the containment ponds and can beeasily transferred pond to pond, rather than diverting large pieces ofequipment from the mining process itself. It would be further beneficialto provide such devices that can be operated with little or no humanoperational effort and that require less fuel than other, larger piecesof equipment.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a roving submersible pumparrangement for movement in a body of fluid includes a submersible pump,having an inlet and a discharge outlet, and a buoyant transport deviceconnected to the submersible pump. The buoyant transport device isoperable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at a selecteddistance from a surface containing the body of fluid.

In certain embodiments, the roving submersible pump further includes adirectional control system for directing the movement of the buoyanttransport device along the surface containing the body of fluid.

In other certain embodiments, the roving submersible pump furtherincludes a remote control device structured for operation at a distancefrom the submersible pump and a driver control device communicativelycoupled to the buoyant transport device for receiving commands to movethe transport device.

In yet another embodiment, the directional control system includes amaneuvering device communicatively coupled to the buoyant transportdevice and a programmable control unit for receiving data relating todimensional, geographical and/or topographical features of the body offluid.

In still another embodiment, the programmable control unit ispre-programmed with data relating to known dimensional, geographical ortopographical features of the body of fluid. The known dimensional,geographical or topographical data provide boundaries within which theroving submersible pump is directed to move.

In certain embodiments, the directional control system further includesa maneuvering device communicatively coupled to the buoyant transportdevice. The maneuvering device includes a global positioning system unitcommunicatively coupled to a global positioning system to facilitatemaneuvering the roving submersible pump through the body of fluid.

In other certain embodiments, the roving submersible pump arrangementfurther includes sensors to sense the presence of objects in the body offluid. The sensors are communicatively coupled to the buoyant transportdevice and the directional control system for effecting a diversionarymovement of the buoyant transport device.

In yet another embodiment, the buoyant transport device comprises atleast two buoyant wheel units connected to the submersible pump, suchthat the buoyant wheel units are adjustable to position the inlet of thesubmersible pump at the selected distance from the surface.

In still another embodiment, the wheel units are aligned on a centralwheel axis and the submersible pump is positioned such that a center ofgravity of the submersible pump is below the central wheel axis.

In certain embodiments, the submersible pump is retained between the twospaced apart wheel units.

In other certain embodiments, the buoyancy of each wheel unit isdynamically adjustable to selectively position the inlet of thesubmersible pump at the selected distance from the surface.

In yet another embodiment, the dynamic adjustment of each wheel unit iseffected by a self-adjusting buoyancy apparatus positioned relative toeach wheel unit.

In still another embodiment, the buoyant transport device includes acarriage supporting the submersible pump with at least two wheel unitsattached to the carriage.

In certain embodiments, the at least two wheel units dynamically adjustto selectively position the inlet of the submersible pump at theselected distance relative to the surface.

In other certain embodiments, the submersible pump is a slurry pump.

In yet another embodiment, the roving submersible pump arrangementfurther includes an agitator operable to agitate sediment on thesurface.

In a second aspect, a mobile, submersible pump system for removingsolids from a body of fluid includes a submersible pump, having an inletand a discharge outlet, and a buoyant transport device connected to thesubmersible pump operable to dynamically adjust the position of theinlet. The pump system further includes an agitator operable to engage asurface containing the body of fluid to create turbidity in the body offluid.

In certain embodiments, the buoyant transport device comprises at leasttwo buoyant wheel units such that the buoyant wheel units are adjustableto adjust the position the inlet of the submersible pump.

In other certain embodiments, the wheel units are aligned on a centralwheel axis and the submersible pump is positioned such that a center ofgravity of the submersible pump is below the central wheel axis.

In yet another embodiment, the submersible pump is retained between thetwo spaced apart wheel units.

In a third aspect, a method for removing silt or other debris and fluidfrom a containment pond includes the step of providing a roving pumpsystem having a submersible pump with a suction inlet, a buoyanttransport device connected to the submersible pump and a directionalcontrol system for directing the movement of the buoyant transportdevice through the containment pond. The method further includes thesteps of selectively adjusting the buoyant transport device to positionthe suction inlet at a selected distance from the bottom of thecontainment pond and activating the submersible pump to remove the siltcontainment pond.

In certain embodiments, the method further includes the step of movingthe roving pump system in the containment system based on dimensional,geographical and/or topographical features of the containment pond.

Other aspects, features, and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure and whichillustrate, by way of example, principles of the inventions disclosed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings facilitate an understanding of the variousembodiments:

FIG. 1 is an illustration a roving submersible pump arrangement shownsubmerged in a body of fluid.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a roving submersible pump arrangementsupported by two wheel units.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a rovingsubmersible pump arrangement supported by a wheeled carriage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a high-level view, according to a non-limitingembodiment, of a roving submersible pump arrangement 10 submerged in abody of fluid 38. As illustrated, the roving submersible pumparrangement 10 includes a submersible pump 12, a buoyant transportdevice 18 connected to the submersible pump 10 and a directional controlsystem 20 for directing the movement of the buoyant transport device 18along or near a surface 36 of the body of fluid. The roving submersiblepump arrangement 10 functions to move through the body of fluid 38 alongor near the surface 36 to remove sediment, silt or other types of solidparticulates 28 that have accumulated and otherwise settled in the bodyof fluid 38. The roving submersible pump arrangement 10 is furtheroperable to remove solids-entrained fluids or slurry 42, which includessuspended solid particulates and sediment 28, from the body of fluid 38.The surface 36 generally refers to the surface of the settled sediment28 adjacent the body of fluid 38 and may be described as containing thebody of fluid 38.

In some aspects, the body of fluid 38 is a containment pond, tailingponds or other similar type of pond that collects sediment or otherparticulates 28, for example, created from mining operations, to includethe mining of oil sands. It is commonly understood that thesecontainment ponds can be man-made or positioned to take advantage oflocal topography. In some instances, the ponds can be as large as sixtysquare miles. In other instances, the ponds can be smaller than or evenlarger than sixty square miles. The body of fluid 38 can vary in depth,d1, due to a number of different factors to include the topography ofthe pond, of which rocks, trees and other natural debris contributes. Itshould be appreciated that the topography of the pond will change overtime as the pond collects particulates 28 or other byproducts frommining operations. The collection of particulates 28 decreases thevolumetric capacity of the body of fluid 38. The particulates 28 thatare denser than the body of fluid 38 eventually separate from the bodyof fluid 38 and collect toward the bottom of the body of fluid 38 suchas, but not limited to, a foundation 34 of the pond or the surface 36 ofthe sediment 28. As used herein, the foundation 34 generally refers tothe bottom-most surface of the body of fluid 38 before sediment andother particulates 28 have started to build-up. The depth, d1, of thebody of fluid 38 is measured between the top surface of the body offluid 38 and the bottom surface of the body of fluid 38, whether thebottom surface of the fluid 38 is the foundation 34 or the surface 36 ofthe sediment 28. From a practical standpoint, the depth, d1, of the bodyof fluid 38 will generally be measured from the surface 36 of theparticulates 28 as the pump arrangement 10 will generally be deployed toremove the particulates 28.

The depth, d1, of the body of fluid 38, in a non-limiting, illustrativeembodiment, is forty feet before mining operations commence. The depth,d1, could be more or less than forty feet. In an illustrative example,after mining operations commence, the depth, d1, may decrease to twentyfeet. Consequently, in this example, a sediment depth, d2, measuredbetween the foundation 34 and the surface 36 of the sediment 28, istwenty feet. In this example, if the sediment depth, d2, was decreasedby removing the sediment 28 using the pump arrangement 10, the depth,d1, of the body of fluid 38 would increase, thereby increasing thevolumetric capacity of the body of fluid 38. It should be appreciatedthat adding the depth, d1, of the body of fluid and the sediment depth,d2, should result in the depth of the body of fluid 38 prior to thecommencement of mining operations.

In exemplary operation, the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 isconfigured to transverse the body of fluid 38 using a number of means,either alone or in combination, which will be described in more detailbelow. Briefly, however, the pump arrangement 10 is structured to movethrough the body of fluid 38 and across the surface 36 using (i) surfacetraction, e.g., wheels or tracks contacting the surface 36, (ii) paddlesor other fluid propulsion mechanisms and (iii) mechanisms for changingthe buoyancy of the pump arrangement 10.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-3, but with reference to FIG. 4, anaspect of the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 is presented. Thepump arrangement 10 includes the submersible pump 12, the buoyanttransport device 18 and, optionally, the directional control system 20.It will be understood that the directional control system 20 is anoptional component as there are alternative methods available fordirecting the pump arrangement 10 such as, for example, by manually orphysically altering the direction of the pump arrangement 10.

The submersible pump 12 is connected to or carried by the buoyanttransport device 18 for movement through the body of fluid 38. Thesubmersible pump 12 includes an inlet 14, which may be referred to as asuction inlet, for receiving the slurry 42 and a discharge outlet 16(shown in FIG. 4). As illustrated, the submersible pump 12 is a slurrypump that is capable of processing the solids-entrained fluids or slurry42 encountered in the body of fluid 38. In one embodiment, slurry pumpis the WARMAN® SHW submersible pump owned by Weir Minerals AustraliaLtd. The submersible pump 12 includes a pump casing 22 which, in knownfashion, is structured to house an impeller (not shown). The submersiblepump 12 also comprises a bearing housing 24 that is attached to the pumpcasing 22, by known means, and a motor housing 26 that contains a motorwith a drive shaft that is operatively connected to the impeller forrotating the impeller. The motor contained in the motor housing 26 canbe a conventional motor such as, but not limited to, a hydraulic motor,an electric motor or a compressed air motor. In one aspect, the motor isconnected to a surface power source via hoses or conduits. In someembodiments, the hoses or conduits include floating devices and/or areconstructed of floating materials or layers so that the hoses do notobstruct the movement of the pump arrangement 10. In another aspect, thepower source is self-contained on the roving submersible pumparrangement 10. In an illustrative, non-limiting embodiment using ahydraulic motor, a hydraulic reservoir configured to contain hydraulicfluid is positioned on the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 and isin fluid communication with the hydraulic motor.

The discharge outlet 16 (FIG. 4) on the pump 12, in an exemplary aspect,is a centerline discharge. In another aspect, the discharge outlet maybe tangentially formed along the pump casing 22. The discharge outlet 16is structured for attachment to a conduit 30 that transports the pumpedslurry 42 to a location separate from the body of fluid 38. The pumpedslurry 42, in one embodiment, is moved to a location where the fluid canseparate from the particulates 28 so that the fluid and the particulates28 can be treated as needed, per any governmental requirements or toaddress any environmental concerns. In one aspect, the inlet 14 of thesubmersible pump 12 is structured with a strainer collar 32 thatsurrounds the inlet 14 of the pump 12. The strainer collar 32 operatesto limit the size of the particulates or solids 28 in the slurry 42 thatenter the inlet 14, via suction, to a size manageable by the pump 12. Inone embodiment, the strainer collar 32 is formed with holes that act asa barrier to the particulates 28 that are too large for the pump 12 toroutinely process.

The submersible pump 12 is secured to the buoyant transport device 18such that the buoyant transport device 18 is operable to station thesubmersible pump 12 at a selected distance, H, above the surface 36. Thebuoyant transport device 18 is operable to maintain the submersible pump12 at the selected distance, H, or move the submersible pump 12 to adifferent distance above the surface 36. According to embodimentsdisclosed herein, the buoyant transport device 18 is any structure thatis capable of maintaining the elevation, distance or height of thesubmersible pump 12 above the surface 36, but is depicted in FIG. 3 asbeing a pair of buoyant wheel units 40 that are each capable of beingdynamically inflatable with a gas, either individually or separately. Inone embodiment, the gas is added or removed from either wheel to adjustthe buoyancy of each wheel individually. In operation, a sufficientamount of gas may be added or removed from each wheel in the pair ofbuoyant wheel units 40, as dictated by the fluid pressures from the bodyof fluid 38 acting on the pump arrangement 10, to raise or lower thepump arrangement 10 relative to the surface 36, while keeping the pumparrangement 10 level. The buoyancy of the pump arrangement 10 may bevaried depending on the desired depth of the pump arrangement 10. Forexample, the buoyancy of the pump arrangement 10 may be varied so thatthe pump arrangement 10 touches the surface 36, is maintained one, two,three feet or more from the surface 36, is floating on the top surfaceof the body of fluid 38 or is maintaining the inlet 14 at the desireddistance, H, above the surface 36. In another embodiment, only one ofthe wheels in the pair of buoyant wheel units 40 is varied, causing thepump arrangement 10 to tilt or roll to the side relative to thelongitudinal axis of the pump 12. In a non-limiting example, varying thebuoyancy of only one wheel may be used if the pump arrangement 10 isfollowing an embankment or one side of the pump arrangement 10encounters an obstacle, such as a rock or a tree stump. The tilt or rollof the pump arrangement 10 may be monitored so that the pump 12 does nottilt more than ten to fifteen degrees. In one embodiment, the pump 12 islimited to a tilt or roll of five degrees.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, each wheel unit 40 is generallyhemispherical in shape, having a circumferential surface 44 structuredfor contacting the surface 36 of the body of fluid 38. In the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 3, for example, the circumferential surface 44 isformed with tread-like formations 46 that facilitate movement of thewheel units 40, e.g., via traction, along the surface 36 of the body offluid 38 when the wheel units 40 are in contact with the surface 36. Theformations 46 may further act to facilitate movement of the wheel units40 on the top surface of the body of fluid 38 by principles of surfacetraction. In some embodiments, the wheel units 40 are structured with anextensions or paddle-like devices 47 that facilitate movement of thesubmersible pump 12 through the body of fluid 38 when the wheel units 40or the buoyant transport device 18 cause the wheel units 40 to beelevated above the surface 36. In one aspect, the paddle-like devices 47act as a propulsion system.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the roving submersible pumparrangement 10 is structured with two wheel units 40 that are coaxiallyaligned and spaced apart. The submersible pump 12 is retained betweenthe two spaced-apart wheel units 40 by pivoting attachment to axles 48of the wheel units 40. As shown, the bearing housing 24 is pivotallysecured to the axles 48, which define a central wheel axis 50 of thewheel units 40. Although not specifically shown, certain aspects includea suspension system that allows the wheel units 40 to move relative theaxles 48 or the central wheel axis 50. In an illustrative, non-limitingembodiment, the wheels are four to five feet in diameter and the pump isapproximately six feet high.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the wheel units 40, aspreviously discussed, are buoyant and are connected to the submersiblepump 12 in a manner that maintains the inlet 14 of the submersible pump12 at the selected distance, H, above the surface 36 of the body offluid 38. Additionally, the submersible pump 12 is positioned on thearrangement 10 in a position relative to the wheel units 40 such that acenter of gravity 68 of the submersible pump 12 is below the centralwheel axis 50 of the wheel units 40 to facilitate keeping thearrangement 10, and in particular, the submersible pump 12, oriented inan operating position.

The wheel units 40 are each operatively connected to a motor device thatcauses each wheel unit 40 to rotate about the central wheel axis 50 sothat the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 is capable ofmaneuvering about the surface 36 of the body of fluid 38 even when thesurface 36 includes obstacles and uneven terrain. The motor device maybe any suitable motorized element. For example, the axles 48 of thewheel units 40 may be operatively connected to a motor that is housedwithin the interior of each wheel unit, thereby shielding the motor.Alternatively, each wheel axle 48 may be operatively connected to thedrive motor housed within the motor housing 26 of the pump 12 such thatthe axles 48 are caused to rotate as the impeller of the pump 12 iscaused to rotate. Other motorizing mechanisms are equally suitable.

The buoyancy of each wheel unit 40 is, in certain embodiments,dynamically adjustable to selectively position the inlet 14 of thesubmersible pump 12 at the selected distance or height, H, relative tothe surface 36. In one aspect, each wheel unit 40 is structured with abuoyancy control unit 52 that is operable to add or remove a buoyancyfluid, such as air or other type of gas, from the wheel unit 40. Thebuoyancy fluid is not limited to gas. In one embodiment, the buoyancy ofeach wheel unit 40 may be dynamically changed by a remote device 54that, from a distance, can be operated to signal a receiver device 56 onthe buoyancy control unit 52 to adjust the amount of buoyancy fluid inthe wheel unit 40.

Other means of dynamically adjusting the buoyancy of each of the wheelunits 40 are possible. For example, each of the wheel units 40 may bestructured with a self-adjusting buoyancy apparatus 62 in communicationwith the buoyancy control unit 52. In one illustrative embodiment, thebuoyancy control unit 52 or the self-adjusting buoyancy apparatus 62receives data from sensors, such as sensors 58 associated with thebuoyant transport device 18, the sensors 86 positioned on the rovingpump arrangement 10 or other sensors positioned in or near the body offluid 38 (not shown). The sensors, collectively, are configured to senseenvironmental conditions such as depth, turbidity, fluid density, forcesacting on the buoyant transport device 18 due to forces created by thepump 12 operation, and other conditions present in the body of the fluid38, such as location or perimeter, or forces acting on the buoyanttransport device 18. Using the received data, the self-adjustingbuoyancy apparatus 62 determines whether to effect a change in thebuoyancy of each wheel unit 40. In exemplary operation, theself-adjusting buoyancy apparatus 62 adjusts the buoyancy in the wheelunit 40 in order to (i) maintain the inlet 14 of the submersible pump 12at the desired distance, H, above the surface 36 of the body of fluid38, (ii) maintain the center of gravity 68 of the submersible pump 12below the central wheel axis 50 and (iii) to otherwise facilitate themovement of the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 through the bodyof fluid 38.

It should be understood that, in addition to, or in lieu of theself-adjusting buoyancy apparatus 62 adjusting the wheel units 40 tomaintain the inlet 14 at the desired distance H, the submersible pump 12may be supported on a variably positionable frame that is capable ofraising and lowering the submersible pump and/or inlet 14 to the desireddistance, H.

The roving submersible pump arrangement 10 further comprises thedirectional control system 20 that is communicatively coupled to thebuoyant transport device 18 to maneuver the submersible pump 12 aboutthe body of fluid 38. The directional control system 20 generallycomprises a mechanism by which the buoyant transport device 18 can bemade to move in a given direction to maneuver the roving submersiblepump arrangement 10 along the surface 36 of the body of fluid 38. In oneillustrative embodiment, the directional control system 20 receives datafrom sensors, such as sensors 58 associated with the buoyant transportdevice 18, the sensors 86 positioned on the roving pump arrangement 10or other sensors positioned in or near the body of fluid 38 (not shown).In one aspect, the sensors may include cameras, sensors associated witha staking system related to pond depth and position, sonar, electroniceye systems using a photodetector for detecting obstruction of a lightbeam, and sensors indicating the pump arrangement 10 has hit anobstacle. The sensors, collectively, are configured to senseenvironmental conditions such as depth, obstacles, location orperimeter. Using the received data, the directional control system 20can maneuver the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 along thesurface 36.

In one embodiment, the directional control system 20 comprises a drivercontrol device 64 in communication with a remote control device 60, foroperation at a distance from the submersible pump 12, the remote controldevice 60 being operable by human or machine control, such as aprogrammable computer. The remote control device 60 is in communicationwith the buoyant transport device 18 or, more specifically, the drivercontrol device 64 for controlling the movement of the buoyant transportdevice 18. The driver control device 64 has a transceiver 66 forcommunicating with the remote control device 60.

In yet another embodiment, the directional control system 20 includes amaneuvering device 70 communicatively couple to the buoyant transportdevice 18, the maneuvering device 70 having a programmable control unit72 for receiving and storing data relating to dimensional, geographicaland/or topographical features of the body of fluid 38. Thus, in use, themaneuvering device 70, which has been pre-programmed with data relatingto, for example, the size and depth of the body of fluid, and itstopographical profile, operates to move the roving submersible pumparrangement 10 about the body of fluid responsive to the pre-programmeddata points. In still another embodiment, the maneuvering device 70 maybe structured with a global positioning system unit (GPS) 74 forreceiving and transmitting positional data from a GPS 80 to therebymaneuver the roving submersible pump 10 over the body of fluid 38.

In operation, it should be appreciated that the directional controlsystem 20, the buoyant transport device 18 or both, are in communicationwith various sensors. The diversionary movement of the rovingsubmersible pump arrangement 10 through the body of fluid 38, which mayor may not necessitate contact with the surface 36, is facilitated byhuman control, automation or a synergistic combination of both.

A second aspect of the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 isdepicted in FIG. 4 where like elements are shown with the same referencenumerals as noted previously. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4, thebuoyant transport device 18 includes a carriage 90 for supporting thesubmersible pump 12. The carriage includes a frame 92 that is structuredto support the submersible pump 12 and to provide attachment of wheelunits 40 thereto. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, four wheelunits are coupled to and support the frame 92; however, it should beunderstood that a greater or fewer number of wheel units 40 may beutilized. For example, in some embodiments, three wheel units may beutilized (a forward wheel unit 40 and a two rearward wheel units 40, oralternatively, two forward wheels and a rearward wheel) having atricycle type configuration. In such a configuration, the forward wheelunit 40 (or the rearward wheel unit) may be a pivoting wheel unit 40 forsteering the pump arrangement 10 and the two rearward wheel units 40 (ortwo forward wheels) are used to support the arrangement 40. The wheelunits 40 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are buoyant and are attached to thecarriage by wheel axles 48.

The directional control system 20 in the second aspect of the rovingsubmersible pump arrangement 10 may include any number of suitabledevices as previously described, including the driver control device 64that is in communication with the buoyant transport device 18 forremotely controlling the movement of the buoyant transport device 18.The directional control system 20 in the second aspect includes themaneuvering device 70 operatively having the programmable control unit72 for receiving and storing data relating to dimensional, geographicaland/or topographical features of the body of fluid 38. Further includedis the GPS unit 74 structured for receiving and transmitting data fromthe GPS 80.

FIG. 4 further illustrates, for example purposes only, an agitatormechanism 94 operable to engage the surface 36 to create turbidity inthe body of fluid 38. In certain aspects, the agitator mechanism 94functions to rake, till, or otherwise stir-up the sediment orparticulates 28 in order to re-suspend the particulates 28. The agitatormechanism 94 is positioned adjacent to and/or otherwise near the input14 and, for example, may be attached adjacent the strainer collar 32. Incertain aspects, the agitator mechanism 94 includes teeth that may ormay not rotate about an axis, operable to dig into the surface 36 totill and/or otherwise stir and agitate the surface 36 so that, asdiscussed in greater detail below, the particulates are suspended toenable collection through the pump intake 14. In other embodiments, oneor more wheel units 40 may act or otherwise function as an agitatormechanism 94. For example, in the tricycle type arrangement discussedabove in which a forward wheel unit 40 is utilized, the forward wheelunit 40 is positioned in front of the input 14. Thus, in operation, asthe forward wheel unit 40, and thus, the arrangement 10, traverses alongthe surface 36, the wheel unit 40 stirs the sediment/particulates 28 tosuspend the particulates 28 to enable the suspended particulate to enterthe intake 14, which is disposed rearward from the forward wheel unit40. After entering the intake 14, the particulates exit the discharge 16of the submersible pump. In FIG. 4, for example, the discharge 16 isstructured with a flange to couple to and receive additional conduit 30,as shown in FIG. 3. In operation, the conduit 30 carries the pumpedfluid and solids away from the body of fluid 38, typically to a placewhere the fluid can be separated from the solids so that the solids caneventually be returned to the earth.

The buoyant transport device 18 may be driven by hydraulic meansconnected the buoyant transport device 18 as is depicted in FIG. 4 witha hydraulic line 96 connected to one or each of the wheel axles 48.Alternatively, the buoyant transport device 18 may be driven byelectrical means connected the buoyant transport device 18. Aspreviously described, the electrical means may be, in one embodiment,the drive motor in the drive housing 26 which provides power to rotatethe impeller of the pump 12. Other electrical motor means may beprovided directly to each wheel unit 40 or supported elsewhere on theframe 92.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, a method for pumping fluid andsolids from the body of fluid 38, such as a containment pond or settlingpool, utilizes the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 comprising thesubmersible pump 12, having the inlet 14 and the discharge outlet 16,the buoyant transport device 18 connected to the submersible pump 12 andthe directional control system 20 for directing the movement of thebuoyant transport device 18 along the surface 36 of the body of fluid38. The method includes the steps of selectively adjusting the buoyanttransport device 18 of the roving submersible pump arrangement 10 toposition the inlet 14 of the submersible pump 12 at the selecteddistance, H, from the surface 36 containing the body of fluid 38. Thedirectional control system 20 of the roving submersible pump arrangement10 is activated for maneuvering the roving submersible pump arrangement10 through the body of fluid 38. The submersible pump 12, whenactivated, functions to remove the slurry 42 from the body of fluid 38and direct the slurry 42 away from the body of fluid 38.

The roving submersible pump arrangement 10 has been described asoperating while submerged, however, it will be appreciated that rovingsubmersible pump arrangement 10 can also operate in conditions where thepump arrangement 10 is not submerged.

In the foregoing description of certain embodiments, specificterminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, thedisclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terms soselected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includesother technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as “left” and right”,“front” and “rear”, “above” and “below” and the like are used as wordsof convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construedas limiting terms.

In this specification, the word “comprising” is to be understood in its“open” sense, that is, in the sense of “including”, and thus not limitedto its “closed” sense, that is the sense of “consisting only of”. Acorresponding meaning is to be attributed to the corresponding words“comprise”, “comprised” and “comprises” where they appear.

In addition, the foregoing describes only some embodiments of theinvention(s), and alterations, modifications, additions and/or changescan be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of thedisclosed embodiments, the embodiments being illustrative and notrestrictive.

Furthermore, invention(s) have described in connection with what arepresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the invention(s). Also, the various embodiments described abovemay be implemented in conjunction with other embodiments, e.g., aspectsof one embodiment may be combined with aspects of another embodiment torealize yet other embodiments. Further, each independent feature orcomponent of any given assembly may constitute an additional embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A roving submersible pump arrangement formovement in a body of fluid, comprising: a submersible pump having aninlet and a discharge outlet; a buoyant transport device connected tothe submersible pump; and wherein the buoyant transport device isoperable to position the inlet of the submersible pump at a selecteddistance from a surface containing the body of fluid.
 2. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a directionalcontrol system for directing the movement of the buoyant transportdevice along the surface containing the body of fluid.
 3. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 2 further comprising: a remotecontrol device structured for operation at a distance from thesubmersible pump; and a driver control device communicatively coupled tothe buoyant transport device for receiving commands to move thetransport device.
 4. The directional control system of claim 2, furthercomprising a maneuvering device communicatively coupled to the buoyanttransport device and including a programmable control unit for receivingdata relating to dimensional, geographical and/or topographical featuresof the body of fluid.
 5. The roving submersible pump arrangement ofclaim 4, wherein the programmable control unit is pre-programmed withdata relating to known dimensional, geographical or topographicalfeatures of the body of fluid, the known dimensional, geographical ortopographical data providing boundaries within which the rovingsubmersible pump is directed to move.
 6. The directional control systemof claim 2, further comprising a maneuvering device communicativelycoupled to the buoyant transport device, the maneuvering deviceincluding a global positioning system unit communicatively coupled to aglobal positioning system to facilitate maneuvering the rovingsubmersible pump through the body of fluid.
 7. The roving submersiblepump arrangement of claim 2 further comprising sensors to sense thepresence of objects in the body of fluid, the sensors communicativelycoupled to the buoyant transport device and the directional controlsystem for effecting a diversionary movement of the buoyant transportdevice.
 8. The roving submersible pump arrangement of claim 1, whereinthe buoyant transport device comprises at least two buoyant wheel unitsconnected to the submersible pump, the buoyant wheel units adjustable toposition the inlet of the submersible pump at the selected distance fromthe surface.
 9. The roving submersible pump arrangement of claim 8,wherein the wheel units are aligned on a central wheel axis and thesubmersible pump is positioned such that a center of gravity of thesubmersible pump is below the central wheel axis.
 10. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 9, wherein the submersible pump isretained between the two spaced apart wheel units.
 11. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 8, wherein the buoyancy of eachwheel unit is dynamically adjustable to selectively position the inletof the submersible pump at the selected distance.
 12. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 10, wherein the dynamic adjustmentof each wheel unit is effected by a self-adjusting buoyancy apparatuspositioned relative to each wheel unit.
 13. The roving submersible pumparrangement of claim 1, wherein the buoyant transport device includes acarriage, the carriage supporting the submersible pump and at least twowheel units attached to the carriage.
 14. The roving submersible pumparrangement of claim 13, wherein the at least two wheel unitsdynamically adjust to selectively position the inlet of the submersiblepump at the selected distance relative to the surface.
 15. The rovingsubmersible pump arrangement of claim 1, wherein the submersible pump isa slurry pump.
 16. The roving submersible pump arrangement of claim 1further comprising an agitator operable to agitate sediment on thesurface.
 17. A mobile, submersible pump system for removing solids froma body of fluid, comprising: a submersible pump having an inlet and adischarge outlet; a buoyant transport device connected to thesubmersible pump operable to dynamically adjust the position of theinlet; and an agitator operable to engage a surface containing the bodyof fluid to create turbidity in the body of fluid.
 18. The system ofclaim 17, wherein the buoyant transport device comprises at least twobuoyant wheel units, the buoyant wheel units adjustable to adjust theposition the inlet of the submersible pump.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein the wheel units are aligned on a central wheel axis and thesubmersible pump is positioned such that a center of gravity of thesubmersible pump is below the central wheel axis.
 20. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the submersible pump is retained between the twospaced apart wheel units.
 21. A method for removing silt or other debrisand fluid from a containment pond, comprising: providing a roving pumpsystem including a submersible pump having a suction inlet, a buoyanttransport device connected to the submersible pump, and a directionalcontrol system for directing the movement of the buoyant transportdevice through the containment pond; selectively adjusting the buoyanttransport device to position the suction inlet at a selected distancefrom the bottom of the containment pond; and activating the submersiblepump to remove the silt containment pond.
 22. The method of claim 21,further comprising moving the roving pump system in the containmentsystem based on dimensional, geographical and/or topographical featuresof the containment pond.